Soroptimist International of Marin County will honor three San Rafael women for their humanitarian work and community achievements.

Daisy Fitzgibbon, who drives seniors and the disabled while attending college, and 17-year-old student Kyleigh Kuhn, who founded Pennies For Peace, will be honored today during a ceremony at the Club at McInnis Park. Marin Sanitary Service president Patty Garbarino will be honored for her dedication to children and community during the group's fund-raising event May 6 at the Mill Valley Community Center.

"These three women are exemplary of soroptimists' goals - to help women throughout the world to become better educated, more independent and greater contributors to our society," chapter president Marla Martin said.

Soroptimist International of Marin County was founded more than 50 years ago and works to benefit the lives of women and girls.

Garbarino will receive the Women Making a Difference Award given to women who have made outstanding achievements in their professional, business or volunteer activities.

Soroptimist member Terry Hennessy nominated Garbarino for the award in a letter that cited examples of her dedication to children such as working as a special education teacher from 1975-1987, developing the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce's School-to-Career Program and serving as chairwoman of three parcel tax campaigns for the San Rafael Elementary School District.

Hennessy also touted Garbarino's community work including being the first woman president of the California Refuse Removal Council, serving on the board of directors of Lifehouse for more than 20 years and being on the county Planning Commission for eight years.

"Ms. Garbarino's professional and volunteer record in Marin County illustrates her commitment to creating a better environment both physically and emotionally for the women and girls in our community," Hennessy wrote.

Single mother Fitzgibbon, 35, will be presented with the Women's Opportunity Award, established in 1972 for recipients who face economic or social barriers or personal hardships.

While raising her 4-year-old daughter, Fitzgibbon studies at College of Marin to earn a medical assisting certification which she expects to complete in January 2006.

She works four hours a day driving seniors and the disabled for Whistlestop Wheels and is president of Head Start Preschool Program.

"Daisy has overcome many obstacles and has worked extremely hard to get where she is today," awards program chairwoman Anna Dibble said. "She has persevered through many challenges. ... She is working to rebuild her life and provide for her daughter."

Kuhn, who attends Marin Catholic High School, will receive the Violet Richardson Award for teen girls who volunteer in their school or community.

Kuhn founded Pennies for Peace in 2003; the group collects pennies to remove land mines from countries around the world.

Dibble said Kuhn's efforts attracted participation from more than 35 local schools, collected 7 million pennies in the first year of its drive and converted several minefields in Afghanistan to safe playing fields.

"She taught volunteerism throughout local public schools and her cause to clear mine fields was global," Dibble said, adding that her efforts were acknowledged by former Secretary of State Colon Powell.

Her mother, Heidi Kuhn, founded Roots of Peace, which removes land mines from former war zones and replaces them with plantings to encourage economic development.